Speaking at a joint news conference after a meeting in Islamabad, Rasmussen and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed their commitment to fighting terrorism.
“We appreciate Pakistan’s military cooperation with Nato and encourage Islamabad to continue its efforts against terrorism,” said Rasmussen.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said Pakistan is not desirous of any active role in Afghanistan, and wants Afghan leaders to be in charge of the national process of reconciliation and reintegration.
“If Kabul thinks Islamabad can play a role, it definitely will...but if not, it will keep itself at a distance,” he said.
Rasmussen said he sought broader, deeper ties with Pakistan and reiterated Nato’s commitment to stay in Afghanistan beyond the planned end of combat operations in 2014, and said he understood Pakistan’s vital role in achieving security in the region.
“I have suggested today that we initiate work hopefully leading to a strengthened political framework for our cooperation,” Rasmussen added.
Qureshi added that the partnership with Nato was not confined to needs in Afghanistan, and added: “This is a very important relationship and we intend to build on it... We have both been useful partners to each other and this partnership will continue in the days to come.”
Responding to criticism on the Pak-Afghan transit trade agreement, Qureshi clarified that negotiations are ongoing and that the perception that India has been allowed to make exports to Afghanistan through land route was misplaced.
He said Pak-Afghan talks were held in seven rounds but in all those encounters Pakistan did not accept Afghan demand in this regard. “Pakistan clearly explained its position and Afghanistan ceded to this,” said Qureshi.
The foreign minister also mentioned unauthorised trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and said: “We intend to check this practice and we have suggested that we plan to transport these goods through containers [monitored by] a tracking system.”
Asked to comment on a statement that Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar were in Pakistan, Qureshi said they would have been arrested if they were in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan hailed a proposed plan by Nato to establish a trust fund for supporting the training of counter-terror operators.
At separate meetings with Rasmussen here, President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani hoped that Nato would provide equipment for capacity building of counter-terrorism units under the proposed fund.
The prime minister also appreciated Nato’s training facilities for Pakistan’s military and civilian personnel and hoped that this cooperation will be further expanded to strengthen his country’s counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency capabilities.
The president appreciated training facilities offered by Nato to Pakistani officers and called for further increasing such facilities.
“The capacity building and training of our military as well as civilian officers was essential for effectively combating the challenges posed by militancy and terrorism,” Zardari added.
Gilani emphasised the need for joint monitoring of Pakistan-Afghan border and increased sharing of information on the cross border movement of militants.
The prime minister also underscored the importance of closer consultation and better understanding on all issues of common interests between Pakistan and Nato.
Gilani welcomed the proposal for signing a framework agreement between Pakistan and Nato through joint political declaration.
Later, the Nato secretary general also met military chief General Pervez Ashfaq Kayani.
A one-line handout said both discussed issues of mutual interest and the emerging situation in Afghanistan. (With input from wire services)
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2010.
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